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Work in Canada

A foreign national who intends to work in Canada is generally required to process a work permit or other permission to legally do so. Such authorization may come in various forms, and usually requires advances approval prior to eligibility to enter Canada for work.

Free Eligibility Evaluation

If you or an employee are seeking temporary eligibility to work in Canada, please complete a Canadian work permit eligibility assessment at no cost to determine which strategy is the best approach in your case. You may also contact us at 011-25332221

Canadian Work Permits

There are numerous categories or provisions by witch a foreign worker can seek a work permit in Canada. However, these usually fall within one of several general classifications that can be used to better understand the procedures.

Temporary Work Visas

Temporary Work Visa

Each year, more than 300,000 foreign workers come to work in Canada on Temporary Work Permits.

Canada Work Permit, or a Work Visa, is issued to eligible overseas individuals to work in that country for a specific time period.

Working in Canada has become a reality for so many people and it is easy to see why. Canada is a leading producer for lumber and oil, has an excellent economy and is a leading international trader. Due to the fact that Canada’s economy is so strong, their currency is dependable and stable and hence has many job and financial opportunities for both Canadian citizens and immigrants.

Employment Opportunities in Canada

Canada is experiencing a work shortage so you are able to take full advantage of this by looking for work in Canada. 75% of Canada’s workforce is in the service industry so there are many service jobs available. As we mentioned before, lumber and oil are the biggest industries in Canada so there are also many positions in these fields. Canada’s fishing industry is also one of the biggest in the world. The Canadian healthcare industry is also very well established and offers many opportunities.

Jobs in Demand in Canada

  • Popular jobs in Canada for foreigners include:
  • Forestry jobs – most of the jobs are located in and around British Columbia
  • Mining jobs – many of these jobs are located in and around Alberta
  • Nursing – nurses are in demand throughout Canada
  • Jobs in the trades (electricians, plumbers etc.) – there is a great demand for these skills throughout Canada
  • Translators – there is a demand for translators for all major languages throughout Canada
  • Employment opportunities in Canada are evident, as, like many popular migrant destinations, it is experiencing skills shortages and therefore welcomes international, skilled workers. The following industries are currently experiencing skills shortages:
  • Hospitality
  • Health and Social Care
  • Engineering
  • Trade
  • Finance and Insurance

Under the Work Permit to Canada visa class, applicants are required to have an offer of employment from an employer within Canada. Should you be qualified and experienced, especially in the industries above (for a Canada Work Visa), start job hunting in Canada today!

In order to work in Canada on a temporary basis, most foreign workers require a work permit.

For foreign workers, an offer of employment from a Canadian employer is usually required before the worker may be granted a Temporary Work Permit by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). There are several steps to this process. Depending upon the foreign worker's country of citizenship, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also need to be obtained in order to enter Canada.

Step 1: Employer applies for Labour Market Impact Assessment, if necessary.

Before a Temporary Work Permit can be issued, the Canadian employer who wishes to hire a temporary foreign worker may need to apply for and be granted a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) by ESDC, which will grant a positive LMIA if it is satisfied that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to do the job.

Work Permits may be issued by Canadian immigration officials without the LMIA requirement in a limited number of situations, as follows:

  • Under international agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
  • Due to the significant economic, social or cultural benefits the work activity will bring to Canadians;
  • So that international students studying in Canada can fulfill academic requirements, known as co-op placements;
  • To allow the spouses/common-law partners of Work Permit and certain Study Permit holders in Canada to work in Canada;
  • Because the nature of the work is charitable or religious;
  • In recognition that certain persons in Canada for reasons other than the above-mentioned, such as the making of a refugee claim, need to support themselves.

More Details about LMIAs and the Recent Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The application fee for LMIA requests is now $1000 per worker, an increase from the $275 per worker fee for LMOs.

Under the new LMIA system job positions are to be be divided into just two categories: high-wage and low-wage. Jobs are considered high wage if the salary meets or exceeds the median wage in the province where the job will be performed, and low-wage if the salary is below the median.

How Long is the Processing Time for LMIAs and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?

LMIA processing times can be somewhat unpredictable, and the LMIA process can range from a couple of weeks, to a few months. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has pledged to process certain LMIA applications within 10 business days. The following categories will now be processed with a 10-business-day service standard:

  • All LMIA applications for the highest-demand occupations (skilled trades)
  • Highest-paid (top 10%) occupations
  • Short-duration work periods (120 days or less)LMIA Application

An employer may submit an application for an LMIA as early as 6-months prior to the intended start date for the position. LMIA application procedures vary depending on the wage of the person being hired. Employers should consult the median hourly wages of their province or territory in order to determine whether their position is considered high-wage or low-wage, as low-wage positions will require the employer to meet additional criteria.

LMIA Application Requirements (From Employer side)

LMIA applications are submitted in hard copy, by mail, to the appropriate Service Canada Processing Centre. Applications must include evidence that the following criteria have been met:

Processing Fee: All applications for LMIAs include a $1000 CAD processing fee which will not be refunded even if the result is negative. Certain applicants under the LMIAs for in-home caregivers may be exempt from this fee.

Business Legitimacy Documents Fee: Documents proving that the employer’s status as a legitimate Canadian business.

Transition Fee: Employers must submit a plan for how they intend to address the need to hire foreign nationals. Eventually, employers are expected to hire Canadian citizens and permanent residents rather than TFWs.

Recruitment Efforts: Employers must submit evidence that they made substantial efforts to recruit Canadian citizens and permanent residents to fill the position prior to hiring a TFW.

Wages: Applications must include information regarding the TFWs wages. This will differentiate the high-wage positions from low-wage positions and ensure that TFWs are paid the same amount for labour as their Canadian equals.

Workplace Safety: TFWs are entitled to the same standards of workplace health and safety as Canadians in the same position. For this reason, employers must provide evidence that TFWs will be covered by insurance which is at minimum equivalent to the health coverage offered by the province or territory where the business is located.

After Submission

After an LMIA application has been processed, employers will be issued a decision. If the employer is issued a positive LMIA, they can proceed with hiring a foreign national. If a negative LMIA is issued then unfortunately the employer is not approved to hire a foreign national.

Positive LMIAs are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. After receiving a positive LMIA, the employer must notify the foreign national so that they can apply for their work permit or permanent residence.

Once the LMIA is granted, the Canadian employer can provide a temporary job offer to the foreign worker. The employer must send a copy of the positive LMIA along with a detailed job offer letter to the foreign worker.
With these documents, the foreign worker can apply to ESDC for a Canada Temporary Work Permit.
If the Canadian employer that is hiring is in the province of Quebec, the foreign worker may also need to obtain a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) in order to work temporarily in Quebec. There are a number of professions in Quebec that are 'facilitated' and eligible for streamlined processing. Local recruitment efforts do not need to be performed by employers as part of their applications to hire temporary foreign workers for these positions in Quebec.
A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the Canada Temporary Work Permit at the point of entry when the foreign worker arrives in Canada.

FAQ About Canada Work Visa

Who can apply for a Canadian work permit?

With few exceptions, work permits are sought by those who have work arranged in Canada. This can include an offer of direct employment with a Canadian employer, contract employment in Canada, or some business activities in Canada. Such work must be described and documented in an application for a work permit.
In limited circumstances, foreign nationals can seek work permits without arranged work in Canada, often referred to as open work permits. Such circumstances most commonly include youth mobility programs, some situations of a spouse/partner accompanying a foreign worker or student to Canada, and protected persons in Canada. Live-in-caregivers and some sponsored spouses or partners also become eligible for open work permits after approval-in-principle of a permanent resident application.
If the case is subject to the requirement of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), then a part time job offer may reduce the likelihood of approval of that process, which could in turn limit eligibility for a work permit. If, however, the part-time nature of the position does not affect the foreign national's ability for self-support, then the LMIA application may remain viable.
In cases in which the work permit is LMIA -exempt, a part-time position is not specifically precluded. However, if this contravenes the requirements of a given program, or if it affects the likelihood that the work in Canada could be performed, then this could be a subjective consideration of an assessing officer.
As a general rule, an application for a work permit is submitted to a Canadian visa office abroad if an individual requires a passport entry visa in order to appear at a Canadian port of entry. The responsible visa office is determined by the nationality of the candidate and/or the country of legal residence.
If the individual does not require a passport visa, then it may be possible to submit the application at a Canadian port of entry (i.e., an airport or border crossing), so long as all other requirements are met at that time (including, for example, possession of a LMIA approval). However, it is important to note that certain types of applications must be processed at a Canadian visa office, even in this latter case. In the case of a port of entry application, centralized foreign worker offices within Canada may render advanced opinions on the eligibility of a given case for a Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption. The case is still processed at the port of entry, however.
On average, visa office applications take the longest to process, whereas a complete application can be processed at a port of entry within a day. Advanced opinions on such pot of entry cases will take one to two weeks to process on average, and visa office applications can take between 30 and 180 days depending on the case and location.
As a general rule, no, the process is the same for the various provinces and territories. The major exception to this rule is in cases of work in Quebec, which may be governed by a separate application process to the Ministère de l'Immigration et des Communautés culturelles. To a much lesser extent, there are some cirtcumstances in which individual provinces may apply separate provisions to small subsets of foreign workers (e.g., some provincial nominees).
It is possible to submit an application while in Canada with valid visitor status. However, such an application will generally need to be submitted to a location outside of Canada such as a visa office abroad or a Canadian port of entry (see above). In such a case, the candidate may need to travel outside Canada to attend an interview, if requested, and will need to be present at a port of enty to convert any approval to an actual work permit.
Commonly, evidence of the purpose of employment in Canada (i.e., a job offer) and Labour Market Impact Assessment if applicable; statutory documents such as passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate; and evidence of professional and academic credentials are required to accompany an application. However, depending on the specific nature of the application, there is a wide range of additional documentation which may be required in support of an application, and individual processing venues have varying requirements.
The process of obtaining a Canadian work permit varies in duration depending on the nature of the qualifications of the applicant, the nature of the job offer, the nationality and residence of the applicant, and the province of the applicant's destination.
Canadian work permit processing delays can range from a matter of hours to 8 weeks, on average and depending on the location of the application. If ESDC Confirmation of the job offer is a requirement, then an additional delay may be incurred while this process concludes.
No, you cannot engage in work in Canada until the work permit is received. You may be able to engage in activities that are covered under the provisions of a business visitor visa during this time, however. Work conducted outside of Canada for a Canadian employer is also not subject to the requirement of a work permit.
Applicants who have been resident in a designated country within the past 12 months, and who are seeking a work permit for a period of six months or greater, are required to undergo medical examinations with a designated medical practitioner. Those who will be engaged in work in an occupation in which protection of the Canadian public health is essential would also be required to undergo medical examinations irrespective of the country of residence and/or the duration of the work permit sought.
A work permit is valid for the duration of the work offered in Canada; the maximum duration of such a work permit may vary from as little as 90 days in some categories, to as many as three years in others. There is no minimum duration of work which would otherwise automatically exempt the need for a work permit (i.e., a work permit may be required for any duration of work in Canada). The circumstances of the case will determine what maximum validity is possible. As a general rule, it is not possible to seek a work permit that is longer than the arranged work in Canada.
Those applying for work permits under the International Mobility Worker Program (i.e., Labour Market Impact Assessment exempt) must provide evidence of the submission of a compliance filing made prior to the work permit application submission, along with evidence of the remittance of the associated filing fee. The compliance filing is the responsibility of the employer, and defines the terms of the offer of employment, including the role, responsibilities, wages and benefits, location of work, legal basis for eligibility, and identity of the International Mobility Worker. Work permit applications submitted without evidence of the compliance filing will be refused.
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